Various injuries mean that Juventus could be without eight first-teamers for Saturday’s Serie A trip to Empoli.
The Bianconeri’s injury woes worsened in the week as Alex Sandro and Weston McKennie were both forced off with separate issues in the 1-1 draw with Villarreal, while Kaio Jorge picked up a serious knee injury while playing for the Under-23s on Wednesday.
Juve had already been without Daniele Rugani and Paulo Dybala for the trip to Spain after they picked up knocks before and during last Friday’s Derby della Mole. Federico Bernardeschi and Giorgio Chiellini are also sidelined, with Federico Chiesa a long-term absentee after tearing his ACL in January.
Juventus’ injury woes deepen with three fresh issues arriving this week
Medical Update | @kaiojorge
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 23, 2022
X-rays revealed that McKennie had suffered a foot fracture against Villarreal following a challenge from Pervis Estupinan. Juventus confirmed that the American has sustained a “compound fracture of the second and third metatarsal bones of his left foot” and will be out of action for two months.
That means he’ll miss much of the remainder of the season. A huge blow.
Alex Sandro, meanwhile, was forced off at half-time of Tuesday’s first leg with what the club have since confirmed was a calf injury. The Brazilian picked up a “low-grade lesion of the soleus muscle of the left leg” and will be re-assessed in ten days.
#Juventus Kaio Jorge injury update:
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) February 23, 2022
- Ruptured patellar tendon
- Timeline is 9-12 months but knock-on effects can last longer (see Liverpool’s Joe Gomez for recent example)
- Arguably the toughest injury for footballers due to high & varying loads on patellar tendon https://t.co/kaPAKbRYNV pic.twitter.com/q3MiyAhbHU
Youngster Kaio Jorge then suffered a devastating injury on Wednesday which will require surgery. The former Santos forward ruptured his patellar tendon, an injury described as the “toughest” for footballers to overcome by Dr Rajpal Brar, and the teenager could be out of action for up to a year.
While Jorge has rarely featured for Max Allegri this season, the impact of this injury on his career could be profound. Let’s pray that he comes back stronger!
In the short term, Allegri will once again have to contend with numerous absentees for the upcoming clash with Empoli in Serie A. The Bianconeri must get back on track after drawing their last three in all competitions, but their injury crisis makes the upcoming bout a mightily difficult one.
Is it time for the boss to turn to youth?